Sir Richard Branson emerged unscathed from Hurricane Irma after bunkering down in his wine cellar on his private Caribbean island. However Branson’s Necker Island and surrounding areas of the British Virgin Islands were left devastated by the hurricane - the largest ever recorded on the Atlantic Ocean. The Virgin Group mogul previously explained that his Necker compound had been built with reinforced hurricane blinds, designed to withstand huge winds. Taking to Instagram on Thursday [September 7], the day after the hurricane hit, Branson wrote: “All of the team who stayed on Necker and Moskito during the hurricane are safe and well. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by Hurricane #Irma in the BVI & Caribbean. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Urge all in its path to seek strong shelter & stay safe. Necker & whole area has been completely devastated.” Earlier on Wednesday [September 6] before Irma hit, Branson shared photos on social media of his team smiling and bedded down in a room. “Expecting full force in about 4 hours, we'll retreat into a concrete wine cellar under the house. Wonderful team calm and upbeat,” Branson wrote in a social media post. Irma is currently barreling towards the U.S. and is set to wreak more devastation. It is expected to make landfall Sunday [September 10] morning in South Florida. 08 Sep 2017 Pictured: Richard Branson shared photos of himself and his team bunkering down at his compound on his privately owned Caribbean island, Necker, as Hurricane Irma approached. Photo credit: Virgin.com/ MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342